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Hi there and welcome. According to the Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy this weblog is maintained by an earthling with a camera who's interested in art, architecture and culture in general, and who likes to explore new things and savour new experiences.

The canal ringed city of Delft is known as the manufacturing base for Delftware, hand-painted blue-and-white pottery. In its old town, the medieval Oude Kerk is the burial site of native son and Dutch Master painter Johannes Vermeer. Once the seat of the royal House of Orange, the 15th-century Nieuwe Kerk houses the family’s tombs and overlooks Delft’s lively market square.

Nieuwe Kerk and statue of Hugo Grotius
Town Hall
Nieuwe Kerk

View of the Town Hall viewed from the tower of the Nieuwe Kerk
Detail of the Town Hall
Windmill The Rose

Detail of the mausoleum of William the Silent

Bible in the Nieuwe Kerk

Statue of Geertruyt van Oosten in front of the Oude Kerk
Canal near the Nieuwe Kerk
Detail of the mausoleum of William the Silent

Amsterdam’s name derives from Amstelredamme, indicative of the city’s origin as a dam of the river Amstel. Originating as a small fishing village in the late 12th century, Amsterdam became one of the most important ports in the world during the Dutch Golden Age (17th century), a result of its innovative developments in trade. During that time, the city was the leading centre for finance and diamonds. In the 19th and 20th centuries the city expanded, and many new neighbourhoods and suburbs were planned and built. The 17th-century canals of Amsterdam and the 19–20th century Defence Line of Amsterdam are on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The 17th century Protestant Zuiderkerk
The Magere Brug over the Amstel
The Amsterdam Renaissance style 17th century Munttoren

The Zuiderkerk viewed from the Zuiderkerkhof

The Waag, a 15th century weigh house, on the Nieuwmarkt

The 13th century Oude Kerk

The Magna Market, or Old Post Office
The National Monument on de Dam Square
The 15th century Nieuwe Kerk

The Royal Palace, Amsterdam’s former Town Hall, on the Dam square

Houses along the Brouwersgracht
The Koepelkerk or Round Lutherian Church and Singelsluis

The Westerkerk viewed from the Westermarkt
The Imperial Crown of Austria of Maximilian I on top of the church
The Westerkerk viewed from the Prinsengracht

The Night Watch sculptures on the Rembrandt Square
Rembrandt Statue

Sluyswacht on the Sint Antoniesluis
Basilica of St. Nicholas and the Schreierstoren
Rijksmuseum